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Russian Lawmaker Says Destroying 50% of Ukrainians Acceptable to Eradicate “Nazism”
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A member of the Russian State Duma has publicly suggested that destroying up to 50% of Ukraine's population is acceptable to eliminate nazism.
State Duma Deputy Aleksey Zhuravlyov made these statements during a conversation with lawyer and blogger Ivan Mironov. When asked how many nazis are currently in Ukraine, Zhuravlyov estimated the number has risen from a previous 2% to roughly 20% or 30% today, according to The Moscow Times on July 7.
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When explicitly asked if all of them should be eliminated, Zhuravlyov responded that it is preferable. "All nazis must be destroyed. All of them must be. You see, if it is fifty—even fifty percent must be destroyed. For the sake of this infection not being there, so that no one threatens us," Zhuravlyov stated.
When asked how to distinguish a nazi from a non-nazi, the lawmaker explained that the primary factor is possession of a weapon. "If he has an automatic rifle—yes, he must be destroyed. Why distinguish him? If you see him, kill him," Zhuravlyov specified.
In the context of modern Russian state propaganda, the accusation of "nazism" has been systematically redefined to target any expression of independent Ukrainian identity or national sovereignty.
This type of severe dehumanizing language reflects a broader pattern of Kremlin political rhetoric, which has frequently been used to justify Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Rather than referring to the historical, far-right political ideology of 1930s Europe, the Kremlin applies this label to anyone who supports Ukraine's existence as a country separate from Russia, promotes the Ukrainian language and culture, or advocates for Euro-Atlantic integration.
By exploiting the deep historical memory of World War II, Russian officials use the term as a political tool to dehumanize the Ukrainian population, frame a war of aggression as a historical continuation of past defense, and justify severe actions against anyone resisting Moscow's geopolitical control.
Presenting the systematic elimination or deportation of citizens as a necessary measure for security allows officials to reinforce the Kremlin's official wartime objectives among domestic audiences.
Such aggressive statements from high-ranking lawmakers are not isolated incidents, but rather a deliberate strategy to justify ongoing military aggression.
In May 2026, Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was nearing its conclusion based on his assessment of battlefield operations. While asserting that Russian forces were advancing in every direction, he refused to provide a specific timeline for the end of hostilities and noted that no formal negotiations were taking place.
Additionally, Putin directed sharp criticism toward Western media, blaming European Union policies for the events in Ukraine, while reiterating that he remained open to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a third country only to sign final peace agreements.
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